Conics in Polar Coordinates Exercises

Polar Form of Conic Sections

Mathematics 54Elementary Analysis 2

Institute of Mathematics
University of the Philippines-Diliman

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Conics in Polar Coordinates Exercises

Focus and Directrix of a Parabola

Recall that for a parabola, we have

We define the eccentricity to be e = 1.

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Conics in Polar Coordinates Exercises

Foci and Directrices of an Ellipse

For an ellipse, we have

We define the eccentricity to be e = ac .

The directrices are of distances ae from the center.
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Conics in Polar Coordinates Exercises

Foci and Directrices of a Hyperbola

For a hyperbola, we have

We define the eccentricity to be e = ac .

The directrices are of distances ae from the center.
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Conics in Polar Coordinates Exercises

Conics in Polar

Consider the following conic section C, with eccentricity e:

one focus F at the pole
corresponding directrix D: x = d
If P(r, ) C, then
PF =r,
and PD =d FB= d r cos
|PF|
|PD|
r
dr cos

Recall that

=e

Hence,

=e

Solving for r,
ed
r=
1 + e cos

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Conics in Polar Coordinates Exercises

Conics in Polar
Example
A hyperbola has one focus at the pole, and corresponding directrix at
distance 2 units to the right of the pole. If e = 32 , find the polar equation of
this conic.
Solution:
Note: e =

=
=
=
=

3
2

and d = 2 we have

ed
1 + e cos
3
2 (2)
3
1 + 2 cos
3
1 + 32 cos
6
2 + 3 cos

some
6 points
on the hyperbola

,
0
,
3, 2 , (6, ), 3, 3
5
2

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Conics in Polar Coordinates Exercises

Conics in Polar (General)

r=

ed
1 + e cos

(directrix to the right of the pole)

r=

ed
1 e cos

(directrix to the left of the pole)

r=

ed
1 + e sin

(directrix above the pole)

r=

ed
1 e sin

(directrix below the pole)

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Conics in Polar Coordinates Exercises

Example

Identify the following conic section:

3
1
r=
1 2 sin
2

r=

2
1 + 0.5 cos

r=

5
1 + sin

Answer:
1

e = 2 Hyperbola

e = 0.5 Ellipse

e = 1 Parabola

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Conics in Polar Coordinates Exercises

Conics in Polar

Example
Identify the graph of the following
r=

1
.
2 sin

Solution:
Rewrite the equation above as
1
r=

2 (1)
1
2 sin

1
e= ,
2

d=1

Hence, it is an ellipse.

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Conics in Polar Coordinates Exercises

Conics in Polar
Example
Find the polar equation of the following conic.
2x2 2y 2 + 4x + 1 = 0
Solution:
Completing the square, we have
(x + 1)2
y2
=
p 2 p 2 = 1
2
2

2
2

v
u p !2 p !2
u 2
2
c=t
+
=1
2
2

Thus, the center is at (1, 0) = focus at (0, 0). Thus, e =

c
a

p
2
2

p
2.

a
Thecorresponding
p directrix
is e to the right of the center. Hence

a
2 p1
1
1 = 2 . Thus, we have
d = e 1 = 2
2

p 1
2 2
1
=p
r=
p
2 2 cos
1 2 cos
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Conics in Polar Coordinates Exercises

Conics in Polar
Example.
Set-up the integral that will give the area of the region common to both
3
6
C1 : r = 2sin
and C2 : r = 1+sin
Solution:
Note that C1 is an ellipse, and C2
is a parabola.

Solving for the point of

intersection, we get
6
3
=
2 sin 1 + sin
9 sin = 0 = 0,

Thus,

Z
0

2
Z 2
1
6
1
3
d
d +
2 1 + sin
2 2 sin

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Conics in Polar Coordinates Exercises

Conics in Polar
Example.
Set-up the integral that will give the perimeter of the ellipse r =

4
2sin .

Solution:

Z
L

s
r2 +

s
Z 2
=

dr
d

4
2 sin

d
2

4 cos
(2 sin )2

2
d
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Conics in Polar Coordinates Exercises

Exercises
1

Find the eccentricity and identify the ff. conics

1

r=

r=

r=

r=

r=

5
1 cos
1
1 + 3 sin
2
2 + cos
4
3 5 cos
1
3 2 sin

Write a polar equation for the conic with a focus at the origin and
satisifes the ff. condition
7
, directrix: y = 6
4

Hyperbola, eccentricity =

Parabola, directrix: x = 3
1
Ellipse, eccentricity = , directrix: x = 5
2
Parabola, directrix: y = 2
3
Ellipse, eccentricity = , directrix: y = 4
4
Hyperbola, eccentricity = 3, directrix: x = 9

3
4
5
6

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